Separator and vaporizer for internal combustion engines



Nov. 3, 1931-. G. HAMILTON-GRAPES SPARATOR AND VAPORIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed MaICh '7, 1929 dw Q I Patented Nov; Y 3, .A179311 ,Y

GEORGE HAMILTON-enanas, or MURnUMBEENA, vlc'ronin, AUSTRALIA ,sErAnATonnNn vnrom'znn vron INTERNAL kco,rinus/131er: ENGINES l `Appnea'cion nirainamn 7, 1929, serial no.

inventionrelates to improvements in devices orcentrifugally separating heavy 4titel particles fromca'rburetted mixtures, and

vaporizing thepseparatedparticles, and feed# ing the heaYYlYfLpOrsin'to Athe stream mixture.' r

, @The problem has been* 'te' prevent erging ofthe engine by heavyuel vaporsl from the f I solve this'p `retort when starting irl-"cold Weather, andto 1 prevent-'crank case ldilution during thefstartf i'ngperiod.'V

roblelrnilby trapping the liquid heavy hydrocarbons'separated and Vaporizing `them as' the engineheats up, 'and' feeding Y the Yvapor of theA heavy hydrocarbons gradu-v ally to the main mixture stream ,and after the engineihas become heated divertingthe Y Separated hydrocarbonsto a retort, preferably automatically, which is heated by the exhaust gases from theengine.,` l 1 Y y ..Theiheavy 'liquid hydrocarbons are thus y separated during the cold periodvof opera-Y tion'of the engine, are retained duringV this period,subsequentlysvaporized, and donot i comeinto contactfvvit-lithe Wallsl of the com- ,bustionfchamber `until they are sofvhotas'to `"j\ -11: "ifevent "recondensati'on vof any ofthe higher fhoilinghydrocarbons supplied to them, hence avery large degree ofcrank caseoil dilution iS aVQdd.-V i. -f c, Referring to thedravvings, in Whichj like Y parts are. similarly designated- Figure lis ai-sidefelevation, partlyin'sec@ o 2 2, Fig. 1;

Y paratus:

xFig2 is'` a plllvviewiofa section on line Fig,y 3 'is' an 'elevationfof the separator ele- 'f Ther mixture fromfthejcarburetteraenters 4theseparator 'element atilan'ge 5tales acircular path through `1809in pipe 6 vto flange 7 connected to the engineinle't manifold. -Pipe gine, to a retort.

6 has an opening 8"`about atits middleior delivering separated f heavy liquid particles from the mixture streamjgpassing to the en` fr Ahead of the opening 8 and at the begin-l ningofthe 1800turn'5 of` pipe 6 is a trap9 "containing a ring 10 through which themixf i011, Showing lmy improved vaporizing ap#4 iaissjanain Great amai; .my 7, 192s.

ture passes tofpipe 6,` andk the major. part 'of the'y unvaporized liquid in the ymixture will be caught in vthe trap 9, fromfvvhich4 a conduit 12'leads the liquidy into a feeding trough 13 of a retort chamber 14, as described in my UQS.v patent application Serial No. 261,578, filed March 14, '1928, and provided with an airf-inletOQ, `f

The collectingtrough 13Vis providedwith a port, controlledfby a thermostatic, norma'lly open, valvel,5"cdnnected by aconduit 16 to'a collectionfchamber 17. This chamber hasfa `vertical p'artitionlS and a bottom19l The vertical tva-1118 has a scretvplug 20 con'- taining a portffcontrolled-jby a normally closed thermostatic valvef21`. f

` B vlow the collection chamber 17is an overflowor'storage chamber 22'.l and bothcharnbers are 'closed'by a platey 23l containing an overflow duct 124 and ay mixture discharge duct'25, connecting the overflow chamber22 With the4 collectionI chamber v17 at la', level above the mouth of the overlovvduct'24. 7

horizontalportion 25,an inclined portion '26, Va substantiallyvertical portion 27 and a connecting .portion 28 connecting 4the roof retortchambervk and 31'of the separator'elementaref'bo'lted ory otherwise' secured. 'This roofl encloses and covers both ythe collecting chamber `17' rand theoverflowk chamber 22.

The'vertical "portion 27 is spaced'f'rom `the .vertical nv'vall/lS, of. the` collectin`g` chamber 22forexit'1of Vapor of theseparatedheavy fuel'fractions'- 7 Y' yl'l'heinclined portion26 vof the roof ofthe collecting .'chamberhas a series of'corrugations 32, or similar formation, to increase the surface area. Below this corrugated portion is ai tray 33ihaving side'walls 34 between which are corrugations 35 that nest withfthe corruga-tions 32 of the inclined portion 26,01

l,the f roof. letvveen the corrugationsV 32 and 35 are laidstrips of Wire gauze 36, one at each side lofthe tray 33, and, the'tray is held in place by a set-screw 37 .f The gauze acts as a wick as.v Well asa spacing means, tojfo'rrna yaporizing channel, in Whichfthe heavy fractionsy are'vaporized,

The roof, of the'overflow chamber has a c i to' a :flange29ftoWhichthefanges 3 0 of the Y The retortv chamber 14 is ofthe typeY described in my aforesaid patent application, and between it andthe roof of the overflow chamber 22 yis a. considerable space for the entry lof hot engine exhaust gases through =.the opening 38. These gases heat bothl the retort and the roof of Athe'ovverflow chamber,

` and pass'out ofv the Vdevice throughA the', muffier connection 89, I

vIn starting a cold engine the major part of theheavy liquid particlesare separated,

. and collected inthe trap' 9 and flow through conduit 12 into'thev feeding trough, thence through A. valve Y15 and A,conduit 16, into; the collectionchamber 17'fand past valve 21 onto *the wire gauzeG and intotheva'porizing channel "between the two strips of gauze, Where the heavy particles are heated by the corrugations?, of the inclined portion'26f of the roof, heated'bythe hotevhaust gasesy "entering'throughv opening 38. The vapor rises along thecorrugations between the tray 33 and corrugations 32 of the inclined por- Y tion-26,'throughrthe slot a into the top of the collecting chamber 17, thence through Va duct 40 intothe entrance of separator pipe. l

l Ifthe engine is very cold and `will notstart, or for other reasons will noti-promptly come to/normalf running, valve'21'will not open,

, and heavy liquid'w'pill collect in the chamber 17 and rise tothe overflow-.24 and pass into y the storage chamber 22. Someof this stored liquid will 'How into a channel 42 partly sur- `roundingthe exhaust opening and be vapor." ized, itsvapor vfollowing, the path :previously described.: Whenthe valvegQlv becomes hot i v enough, .-itfautomatically opens to 'deliver liquid to the wire gauze strips and into the VUnarrowspacerbetween them.

,Y When `the enginegrearches normal' running,

VVvalve 15 closes the dischargefrom the'feeding. trough, and allows theY liquid' to rise Y therein r'and overflow into the retort chamber,

where liquid isgvaporized,r and .the vapor passes out through f the mouth ,of the retort into the pipe 6."k Any residual 'fractions that i. .pass'the trapv'9 .will v'enter themouth of vthe retort directly at 8. After .the valve 15 has closed,fther wire gauzewby capillaryl action gradually'draws the yliquid from storage chamber 2Q and vapori'zes it, while collecting? chamber continues Pto discharge through V,valve 21 bygravityuntilall the liquid in both of these c iambers'hasbeen vaporized.

My apparatus k,will vaporize any fractions havin any pointup to about 235 (C.

-As e liquid level rises in: the overflow 22 y1t passesa suction tubel v4f3leadi1igdirectly into the ringlO, asshown. l `'lfhistube 43is4 so dimensioned Ias' not to prevent-.all the liquid beingfexhausted fromvthe overflow chamber,

thus bylpassing excess liquid tu the mainV mixture streaim-Qandf acts as anti-flooding means) 1.," ,f s' A i l l i y It" will be noted that the collection cham'-v ber. and the storage chamber act as insulators tofretain the-heat of the exhaust gases within the device 'for heating theretort, and thereby obtain a muchy higher heat in the retort and its toe, with the particular object in View of retaining this heat for vaporization of the heavy,separated liquid particles, particularly during starting and/idling of the engine,

V[ clainiv 1. Mechanism of the type described, .com-

prising means Yto initially separateheavy fuel fractions from a carburetted fuel mixture' as itis passing toan engine, a chamber through which exhaust gases pass, a collection chamber, means to 'supply said separated heavy liquid fuel to the collection chamber, means to supply the heavy fuel fractions overthe exterior of the bottom of the chamberheated by exhaust gases, yand means to return the Vvapor intothe main mixturestream.v 9.. Mechanism of the type.` described,lcem prising means to initially separate heavyfuel fractions from a carburetted Lfuel vmixture as it is passing to anv engine, a. collecting chaine ber, means 'to supply said, fractions .tofthef collecting chamber, a chamber through which engine exhaust gasesV pass 'having an inclined, corrugatedbottom, acorrugated tray. whose corrugations match with the lunderside of the corrugations of said bottom, and a valve to control the gravity supply of heavy Afractions between the bottom and the tray, and means to supply the vapor of said fractions from between the matching corrugations to the mixture stream passing to the engine. z y' 3. Mechanisinof the type' described, comprising means to separate heavyA fuel vfractions froin a carburetted fuel mixture as it is passing toran engine, a collection chamberv for said separated fuel, a chamber through lwhich engine eXh aust gases pass and having a corru gated inclined bottomatray fitting below the corrugations of said bottom, capillary means between the tray and bottom, a thermostatic valve to deliver fractions from vthecollection chamber yby gravity betweenthe corrugations of said bottomandtray, and jmeans V:to deliver the vapor of said fractions' to the main vmixture stream.V I p ,a 4. Mechanism of the type'described, com"-` prising means to trapl heavyy liquid fuel pari ticles from a carburetted fuelI mixtureas it passes to kan engine, l a collectionfchamber, means to supply thetrapped liquid to'.v said collection chamber, a chamber through which engine exhaust gases 'passhaving" an inclined bott-om, an overflow chamber into which liquidr of said 'collectionchamber may overr flow and saidbottom formingthe roof theref of,-a wick memberbelow said bottom, amenaber infthe storage chamber to hold the wick member against said bottom and terminatingl Aat its lower ends in the storage chamber, a

valve to control theflow of heavy liquid fuel Vbygravity to Athe space. between saidsboattom to cut oitheusupply of liquid tothe `collectandholding member,.and means toreturn the vaporized heavy fuel fractions tothe mixture stream passing tothe engine.

- which vsaid trapped liquid Yis delivered by 5. Mechanism of thetype described, com# prisingmeans to trap heavy liquid fuel'par-y ticles from a carburett'ed; fuel mixture pass-y ing to an engine, acollection chamber to gravity, an overflow chamber into Which the liquid inthe collection chamber lmay over- 1 flow, a chamber through which engine exhaust gases pass and havlngl aninclined bottom,

' ing a vaporizingY channel, said'chann'el ex-- means on the underside' of said lbottom` formtending to the bottom of the storage chamber and-saidv storage-chamber having an extension partly surrounding theexitlof the Vexhaust gases, a valve to control'the gravity discharge of liquid tofsaid vaporizing chan- ;nel,jand meanszto deliver the vapor from Vsaid, channel into the mixture passingto the i engine.

6. Mechanism ofthe ltype described, comi Yprising means tojtrap liquid particles from "a .carburetted V fuel mixture passing to an' en-Av gine, afchamberthro'ugh which engine vexe haust gases, pass,- a retort'therein arranged to deliver vapor torsaid mixture, a` feeding Y A ytrough for'said retort, a collection chamber,Y

l a valve to control the delivery ofliquid from saidtrough to the collection chamber, an-

, other lvalve in the'collection chamber to con-` trol the discharge of liquid onto lthe exterior surface ofthe chamber.throughwhich the l' ing chamber and permit it to be diverted into said retort, and means todeli'ver the vapor arising from the exterior of said exhaust. e Y chamber to the mixture passing to the engine.

l 7.v Mechanisml of the type described, comprising means to'trap liquid particles from engine exhaust gases pass, a. valve to control 'f the delivery of liquid from the collection chamber onto the exterior `of saidexhaust f gas chamber, 'means to deliverv s the vapor. f arising from the liquid on the exterior of the exhau-st gasfchamber to the mixture passing to the engine, an overflow vchamber to receive 'K liquid from'the collectionchamber, andrea i liquid in the overflovvchamber back into the pipe labove the bottom of the-,overflow chamber to delivera small exss lquantity Aofthe mixturepassing tothe engine.y

8.v Mechanism of thetype described, comgas chamber, means to deliver thev vapor arising from the liquid on the exterior of the exhaust gas chamber to the mixture passingl to the engine, an overiiow chamber to receive liquid from the collection chamber, a pipe above the bottom of the overfiow chamber to deliver a small excess quantity of the liquid in the overflow chamber back into Vthe mixture passing to the engine, and a retort in said Vexhaust gas chamber open to the mixture passing to the engine at a point beyond the trapping point.

`9. Mechanism of the type described, comprising means to trap liquid particles from a carburetted fuel mixture passing to an engine, a' feeding trough to Which the chamber through'vvhich exhaust engine gases lpass having an inclined bottom,spaced capillary means on the exterior of said bottom, an ,overflow chamber to f recelve overiow `from the collecting chamber, means in the overflow chamber tol hold saidv capillary-i means against the exterior of said'inclined bottom, 'a ythermostatic yvalve opened When ,i

heated. to'di-scharge liquid by gravity between the capillaryv means, said caplllary means entering the liquid in the overiiow chamber, aretort in the exhaust gas chamber, means to return the liquid vapor to the mixture'passin'g to the engine, said first valve yclosing Whenthe engine has reached normal running to permit said trough to overflow p into the retort, the vapor from said retort A,

entering the mixture passing to the engine at a point beyond the point of trapping, and meansto return liquid from the capillary means and vapor Lfrom the collection chamber andl the. overflow chamber to said mixture.

Intestimonythat I claim the foregoing Vas my invention, I have signed my name hereto. p v

n GEORGE KHAMILTON-GRAPKES.

prising ymeans tojtrap :liquid particles from ya carburetted fuel mixture passing to an en-r gine, av collection chamber to which the liquid is delivered, Vachamber through which f engine exhaust gases pass, a valve to control the delivery of liquid from the collection chamber onto the'exterior of s aidA exhaust, 

